Holst The Planets (which version)

Bubinga99
Bubinga99 Posts: 283
edited June 2010 in Music & Movies
I'm building my list of titles, hoping there will be some 4th of July sales. Figured I should get some classical, and this title seems to be widely appreciated.

Trouble is, there are many different versions. There are tons of different redbook versions by different orchestras, plus XtraHD CD, XRCD24, and a couple (pricey) SACD versions.

If you have a version that you think the recording quality is exceptional, could you chime in with which version you have?

Thanks.
Post edited by Bubinga99 on
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Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited June 2010
    Hello,
    According to the 2010 Gramophone Classical Music Guide the best performance is the Montreal Symphony Orchestra conducted by Charles Dutoit. Decca 476 1724. In fact they give it their "gem" award. The next ranking is with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Simon Rattle. EMI 359382-2. This is a two disc set that is priced as one disc, you also get some pieces commissioned by Rattle.
    Both companies have a very good reputation for sound quality. Maybe a slight edge with EMI, but both should sound fine.
    Enjoy, Ken
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  • John K.
    John K. Posts: 822
    edited June 2010
    B99, there are of course a whole lot of recordings that can be recommended to someone just beginning his classical collection, but The Planets is a terrific place to start, with at times energetic and at times beautiful music that should appeal to most listeners. I own six versions and have listened to borrowed copies of at least a dozen more. I own the Dutoit that Ken mentions and can recommend it highly, but my overall favorite is the thrilling Mehta version, available at ridiculously low prices from Amazon sellers here for about $6 shipped.

    I also borrowed and listened to the Rattle discs and was unimpressed by a calm and rather undramatic rendering. This appears to be another example of the British press and Gramophone magazine in particular heaping lavish praise on rather ordinary efforts delivered by Sir Simon. Either the Mehta or the Dutoit versions are more rewarding, with the Mehta getting my highest recommendation.
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited June 2010
    Steinberg/BSO
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,341
    edited June 2010
    I like the two MFSL versions that I have on SACD David Susskind and the St. Louis Symphony.

    On LP, George Solti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The sound quality and the performance of these two versions are spectacular
    Carl

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